Sunderland’s defensive frailties are well-documented: they have conceded more goals in the league this season than any other team, and if this doesn’t start to improve they have no chance of survival.

Injuries to Younes Kaboul and John O’Shea mean the 36-year-old Wes Brown, who has played only two competitive games in nearly eight months, is likely to start against Liverpool on Wednesday night.

Sam Allardyce would be forced to call on the Under-21s squad if Brown picked up a knock.

Sunderland clearly need defensive reinforcements in January – here are five names they could target.

Lamine Kone

The Lorient defender has been linked with a move to the Stadium of Light for several weeks, and Sam Allardyce has watched him in the flesh on a scouting mission.

Kone is an Ivory Coast international and has been playing in Ligue 1 with Lorient for five years.

He has attracted the interest of several Premier League clubs, especially Norwich, so Sunderland might need to act quickly in January to bring him to the Stadium of Light.

Jose Enrique

The Spanish full-back was signed by Allardyce at Newcastle and would be available for a move after being frozen out of Liverpool’s first-team for nearly a year.

He fell out of favour under Brendan Rodgers but has also failed to earn a recall under Jurgen Klopp.

At 29 he still has plenty of years at the top level left in him, and a move to a relegation-threatened side would surely be better than twiddling his thumbs on the bench at Anfield.

Joel Matip

The 24 year-old centre-half has been an ever-present for Schalke in the Bundesliga this season, but he has only six months left on his contract.

Newcastle have been interested in Matip for several months but were reportedly put off by his £10million price tag this summer.

Liverpool have also been linked with the Cameroon international, who can play in defensive midfield as well as at the back.

James Tomkins

The West Ham centre back has a good relationship with Allardyce, who he played under at Upton Park. Allardyce believes the 26 year-old compares favourably to England’s finest defenders. “When I look at opponents like Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill, I don’t see a huge amount of difference when I watch them playing against each other,” he said.

Tomkins has been played out of position at right back recently under Slaven Bilic, but would he really be willing to swap mid-table security for a relegation dogfight?

Jan Kirchhoff

Surely signing a Bayern Munich player is too good to be true?

According to reports last week, though, the German behemoths are willing to offload their 6ft 5in centre-half, who they signed from Mainz two years ago.

The 25 year-old’s only appearance this season was for two minutes off the bench in the domestic cup earlier this month, and he has also had two underwhelming spells on loan at Schalke.

A move to the Premier League, even to a club struggling at the foot of the table, could be a fresh challenge for the former German youth international.